Folding receptacle.



A. L. BENNER.

FOLDING RECEPTAGLB.

APPLICATION FILED no.3, 1909 1,1 15,888. Patented Nov. 3, 1914 yzs Aw nmmmsy TH NORRIS PETERS CO..PH01OL|.TH WASHINGTON, D. c

ANGIE L. BENNER, OF STERLING, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING RECEPTAGLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 8, 1909. Serial No. 532,109.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANGIE L. BENNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sterling, in the county of VVhiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding-Receptacles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in folding receptacles, and pertains to a simple and novel method of constructing crates, boxes, and the like entirely from metal, and in such a manner that the receptacle can be collapsed when empty, and returned to the place of shipment, to be again used.

My invention is more particularly designed to be used for the transportation or storage of eggs, vegetables, and fruits, which keep better when provided with a plentiful supply of air.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the outer receptacle; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the filler therefor; and, Fig. 3 is a plan View of the filler, partly broken away.

Reference numeral 17 designates a bottom plate, preferably rectangular in form, at the corners of which are fixed sections 18 supporting telescoping sections 19, in which are secured a plurality of wires 20. Upon the upper ends of the sections 19 is supported a cover 21, and pivoted to the plates 18 of the lower sections 19 is a pair of bails 22, capable of being turned inwardly upon the cover 21 to hold the same in position.

When the crate or case is empty, it can be reduced to a compact space by telescoping the sections 19 downwardly, and folding the bails 22 downwardly upon the same.

In shipping eggsand like commodities of small size, a filler device such as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is employed. This filler provides compartments for the eggs or the like, and is placed within the crate just described. Each section of the filler comprises a plate 23, provided with foldable legs 24, adapted to support such plates and hold the same in the same relative positions with reference to each other. Attached to the lower faces of the plates 23 is a plurality of coiled springs 25, by which are supported one or more series of wires 26 and cross wires 27, properly spaced so as to form the egg compartments 28.

When the case is filled with eggs and it is desired to remove the same, the upper plate 23 is lifted upwardly carrying with it the springs 25 and wires attached thereto, and leaving one layer of eggs on the next lower plate 23, which can thereupon be easily removed. When the case is empty, and it is desired to collapse the same, the legs 24 are turned inwardly, permitting the filler sections to be forced downwardly with the plates 19, and compressed into compact space. When the sections 19 are again extended, the fillers resume their former posi tions. It will be seen that the contents of the egg case, will at all times have a plentiful supply of air. hen the bails 22 are in a vertical position, the cases can be piled one upon another without danger of collapsing the lower ones.

Having fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A collapsible filler for shipping crates,

Patented Nov. 3, 1914..

springs thereof, legs of substantially the length of the coil springs when the latter are extended and said legs being pivoted to the side edges of the plates, said legs of each l plate being movable into the planes of the coil springs and the plates.

In testimony whereof I my signature in presence of two witnesses. M

ANGIE L. 'BENNER. Witnesses:

W. N. HAsKnLL, I. L. WEAVER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

